The sun beat relentlessly down on them, warming and drying the air to a degree where sweat dampened their clothes, and Sara greeted with relief the men's decision to rest up for a while. There were trees ahead, and minutes later they slowed the horses to a canter before bringing them up beneath the shading branches.
'Bored?'
Sara glanced at Rafael as he helped her dismount. 'Why should I be?' she queried quietly, aware that Ana and Bart were just out of earshot.
'You seem —' he paused fractionally, then added a trifle wryly, 'contemplative.'
'It's, rather difficult to conduct a conversation while riding. However, if that's what you require, then I'll do my best.'
'Sarcasm doesn't become you.'
'My apologies,' she proffered sweetly, and encountered his dark sardonic gaze.
'Sara, don't provide provocation, hm?'
'Why, Rafael darling, I wouldn't dream of it. Quite honestly, the thought never entered my head.'
'Are you two going to share this flask, or shall Ana and I finish it off?' Bart called teasingly, and Sara turned to join them, crossing to sit; down beside Ana as she leant back against the tree-trunk.
'Hm, I needed that,' she said with pleasure as she sipped the cool liquid. A heat haze shimmered in the distance, and as she watched a swirl of dust rose from the ground and performed a strange and fascinating dance as the wind currents caught and played with it, then in a moment it was gone. It was hot, but not unbearably so, and despite the loneliness of the terrain there was a certain companionable solitude in being so far from civilisation. Out here there were no pressures, little awareness of time as such, and she didn't wonder Rafael chose to exchange the concrete and steel jungle for a slice of such peace and serenity whenever the opportunity arose.
'Have you gone to sleep, Sara?'
She slid her sunglasses up to rest on her hair and adjusted her wide-brimmed hat so that it rested at her nape. 'No, poppet,' she reassured Ana with a smile. 'Just drinking in the beauty of our surroundings.'
'It is nice out here, isn't it?' Ana declared with a satisfied grin. 'There's no noise, but if you listen hard you can almost hear things.'
Sara knew exactly what she meant. 'You like being with your father, don't you?' It was a statement, rather than a query, and Ana didn't rush to answer straight away.
'He's special,' she said simply.
Sara felt a lump rise in her throat and had difficulty in swallowing it. Part of her wanted to agree. Rafael Savalje was one of a kind.
'What are you two discussing with such seriousness?' the object, of her thoughts pursued in drawling tones, and Ana broke into an undisguised chuckle.
'You, Papa.'
Rafael gave a wry smile. 'Indeed? Should I enquire why?'
'It would only give you a swelled head,' Sara declared. 'Right, Ana?'
'I said you were special,' the young girl revealed with a ready smile. 'Sara agreed with me.'
His eyes gleamed with hidden amusement as he looked down at Sara. 'Two adoring females,' he commented quizzically. 'Such a boost to my ego!'
'Make the most of it,' Sara told him with a sweet smile, and he chuckled as he extended a hand in assistance.
'On your feet, both of you. We're heading back.'
The distance didn't seem so great on the way back to the house, and Sara was surprised when the farm buildings came into sight. Sweat ran in damp rivulets down the valley between her breasts, and she felt hot and sticky as they reached the home paddocks. A shower and a change of clothes were a necessity, and she said as much as she dismounted and handed the reins to Bart.
'Did you enjoy the ride?' Rafael's manager enquired, and she acquiesced with a smile.
'Very much.'
'So did I,' Ana enthused. 'It was great!'
'Such wholehearted enthusiasm,' Rafael remarked tolerantly. 'It appears the two women in my life are very easy to please.'
Sara fielded his teasing glance by addressing his manager with the query, 'Do you need a hand with the horses?'
'I'll help Bart,' said Rafael. 'You and Ana go and wash. Lunch will be ready soon.' His gaze was steady, his tone inflexible, and she directed him a stunning smile.
'In that case we'll go and make ourselves beautiful for you.'
Ana broke into a series of delighted giggles and skipped along beside Sara as they made their way towards the house.
'I think I'll run a bath,' Sara declared as they entered the lounge. She stretched her arms and felt the pull of several muscles. 'A nice hot soak with lots of bubbles will do wonders.'
'I'm going to have a shower, then I'll call over to see Rita,' the little girl declared. 'See you soon,' Sara bade as she disappeared into her room, then extracting fresh underwear, a skirt and top, she made for the bathroom, peeling off her blouse as she fitted the plug into the large bath, then she turned on the taps and added a liberal quantity of bath oil.
Soon there were clouds of steam filling the room, and slipping out of her jeans she stepped into the scented water, revelling in the foamy bubbles that rose almost to her chin.
Without thought to time she soaked unashamedly, adding more water as she pondered how much her life had changed over the past week.
So caught up in her reverie was she, Sara hardly registered the almost silent click of the door until a faint movement caught her eye, and she let out a scandalised cry as Rafael came into view.
'What are you doing here?'
With indolent ease he unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged it off, then reached for the buckle at his waist. 'I need permission to enter my own bathroom?' he enquired lazily as he stepped out of his jeans, and chuckled at her hastily averted gaze as he removed his briefs. 'So shy, Sara?'
'Don't you have any respect?' she demanded in a furious whisper, then she gave an incredulous gasp as he calmly stepped into the bath. 'You can't get in!' - His eyes twinkled with devilish humour. 'My dear Sara, I am in.'
'You're impossible!' she snapped furiously, and he laughed, a deep throaty sound that only increased her anger. Without thought she scooped up a handful of water and tossed it into his face.
'So you want to play, hm?' he growled huskily, and with galling ease he reached out and lifted her forward until her face was bare inches from his own.
Sara caught hold of his shoulders to steady herself, then let out a gasp as he kissed her, a brief bruising kiss that made her want to lash out at him.
'If you're all through with your ablutions, you can scrub my back,' he drawled, his eyes gleaming darkly at her impotent fury.
'Like hell!'
'Ah, querida.' he sighed mockingly. 'Where's your sense of humour?'
'I don't like being invaded when I take a bath,' she choked, sorely tried, and saw one eyebrow slant in cynical amusement.
'Not even when the invader is your husband?'
'Especially not you,' she declared vehemently.
'Poor Sara,' he mocked. 'Am I so hateful?'
She swallowed compulsively, then lifted a hand to push back a lock of hair that had fallen forward over her face. 'Let me go, Rafael.' A strange weakness assailed her limbs, and she pushed against his chest in an effort to put some distance between them.
'What is so terrible about sharing a bath with me, Sara?' he queried softly.
'Because it isn't decent,' she retorted swiftly, and coloured at his husky laughter.
'You are an innocent, aren't you?'
Her eyes sparked green fire as she demanded, 'Would you prefer me to be otherwise? Doubtless Renée is conversant with every titillating trick in the book. Perhaps I should consult her as to your preferences in the bathroom, as well as the bedroom!'
There was a glimpse of terrible anger in his dark eyes, and for a moment she thought he might actually hit her, then he smiled—a savage ruthless twist of his lips that sent shivers down the length of her spine.
'I'm sorry,' she whispered, aghast at the hasty words she'd flung.
'So you should be,' he concurred silkily. 'R
enée is a thousand light years away from you.'
'Is that a compliment or a condemnation?'
'I married you. Does that answer your question?'
Sara felt her lower lip tremble slightly. 'Don't play with me, Rafael,' she begged shakily. 'It's becoming more difficult with each passing day to compete with you.'
'Why try?' he queried sardonically. 'The outcome is a foregone conclusion, and you'll only succeed in tiring yourself in the process.'
In any battle he would always emerge the victor. It was useless trying to think otherwise. 'Please let me go,' she entreated, unable to bear being so diode to him. In a moment her traitorous body would begin to respond, and that would never do. It was bad enough during the dark hours when she shared his bed.
'I can't persuade you to stay?'
All too easily, she thought sadly, and it took considerable strength to give a negative shake of her head. 'Ana might come looking for one of us,' she invented the excuse, and blushed at his mocking glance.
'My daughter has the good manners to knock on any closed door, and wait until she is instructed to enter—or otherwise.' He released her arms and smiled as she scrambled quickly from the bath. 'Run away, little mouse. Another time I won't allow you to escape so easily.'
Sara reached for a towel and wrapped its enveloping folds about her slim curves, then gathering up her clean clothes she turned to deliver a parting shot.
'One disadvantage in sharing a woman's bath, Rafael,' she issued sweetly. 'You'll come out smelling like a rose.'
'And no one will doubt the reason why,' he taunted softly, laughing as a blush coloured her face bright crimson.
After a light meal of cold meats and various salads together with freshly baked bread rolls, Ana pleaded for her father and Sara's company in a card game of their choice. Around mid-afternoon they changed into swimsuits and spent a leisurely hour in the pool, then lay out in the sun before donning their clothes and wandering around the farm buildings on a conducted tour of inspection.
Sara viewed the penned bulls with healthy respect, although idly grazing they looked anything but fierce. However, their solid stature was deceiving, and she was all too aware how quickly they could move when roused.
With Ana providing an adequate buffer, Sara felt quite able to tolerate Rafael's presence, and it was only after dinner when the little girl had bade them goodnight and gone to bed that she began to feel tense and ill at ease.
Pleading a desire to view a film on another channel didn't fool Rafael at all, and his deep husky laughter as he switched the set off prior to scooping her up from the chair into his arms only succeeded in bringing all her latent anger to the fore.
'Oh, is that all you can think about?' Sara flung waspishly as he strode down the hall towards their room.
'Would you prefer me to ,show indifference?' Rafael teased as he closed the door with a backward kick of his foot.
'You're a lusty animal,' she told him bitterly. 'Have you spared a thought to the end result?'
He moved towards the large bed, then paused to let her slip down to stand before him. Slowly he took her chin and tilted it. 'A child?' His eyes gleamed darkly as he held her gaze. 'Would you mind very much bearing my son, Sara?'
'Do I have a choice?' she cried emotively. 'Even Ana mentioned how nice it would be to have a brother or sister, or even one of each!' she ended chokingly, and Rafael's expression hardened fractionally.
'You share a natural empathy with children. Why not provide one or two of your own?'
'Why not a whole tribe?' she queried wildly. 'I'm young and healthy, and should serve as an adequate breeding machine.'
'Is that why you think I married you?' Rafael demanded hardily, and she uttered a harsh laugh.
'I know why you married me. I doubt I'll ever be able to forget it!'
'There are times,' he said pitilessly, 'when I could beat you within an inch of your life.'
'Why don't you? You've done everything else!' Dear God, what was wrong with her? She had to be insane to taunt him like this.
'Sara,' he warned dangerously, 'in a minute I'll render the spanking you so richly deserve.'
'Oh, for heaven's sake, let's go to bed,' she said wretchedly. 'I'm tired, I ache all over, and I'm so weary of fighting you.' Her voice cracked on the last few words, and her shoulders sagged in utter dejection.
'Then why try?'
'Because I can't seem to help myself,' she admitted miserably.
'Poor little girl, what a terrible life you lead, hm?'
'Don't tease me, Rafael,' she pleaded, and heard his faint sigh.
'What would you have me do with you, querida? Much as I enjoy breaking down your resistance, I grow weary of the battle you present at each and every turn.' His hands slid up her arms to cup her face, and she suddenly had difficulty in swallowing.
Without thought she ran the tip of her tongue over her lower lip, and glimpsed the faint narrowing of his eyes, then in an unbidden gesture she slowly reached up and wound her arms around his neck.
'What is this—an invitation?'
Pain momentarily clouded her eyes, and he caught sight of the faint trembling of her mouth, then his head descended as he crushed her close;, moulding her slim curves to fit the hardness of his own as he took possession of her lips in a kiss that seemed to sear her very soul.
His lovemaking became an exquisite thing, tenderness mingling with strength and mastery as he brought her sensually alive, pacing her pleasure with his own until they reached the heights of ecstasy in one joyful explosion.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Their return to Surfer's Paradise brought a spate of social invitations from Rafael's associates that couldn't be ignored? and the first of these was accepted for the following Saturday evening.
A formal affair, Rafael had said wryly when taxed, and on discovering Renée Laquet was to be one of the guests Sara decided a new dress was definitely indicated.
After two days of fruitless searching she finally discovered the very thing. On the hanger it looked nothing out of the ordinary, but after being persuaded to try it on she had to agree it was exquisitely elegant. In black chiffon with a halter neckline, it gave the illusion of revealing more than it concealed, with a skirt that flowed from a fitted waist to swirl dreamily round her ankles. A fine black lacy stole completed the outfit, and Sara didn't even blink at the exorbitant price-tag.
It wasn't until Ana reminded her over lunch on Saturday that Sara remembered she'd given her word to accompany the little girl to a children's party during the afternoon,. Tomas was to drive them to Coolangatta, and wait until the entertainment concluded before before bringing them back in the late afternoon. 'I forgot to remind Papa,' Ana wailed.
'Never mind, poppet,' Sara smiled. 'We'll leave a message with Clara.'
The Mercedes sped down the Gold Coast Highway beneath Tomas' competent hands, and their arrival at the scene of the party was greeted with circumspection. It didn't take long for it to register that Sara was the cause! 'I told them I was bringing my mother,' Ana revealed in a whispered aside as they moved towards the hostess and her daughter at the far end of the lounge.
Not 'my new mother', simply 'my mother'. Sara felt unaccountably touched, and oddly protective of the young child at her side. They shared a warm relationship that had long since emerged from the tentative stage, and she was very much aware that Ana wanted her friends' approval—even perhaps their envy. In the very nicest way, Rafael's daughter was indulging in a little showing-off!
It was well after five o'clock by the time they could get away, and Ana settled into the back seat of the large car beside Sara, happily content that everything had gone according to plan.
'It was lovely, wasn't it?' the little girl sighed with satisfaction. 'You were the prettiest of all the mothers there.'
'That's the nicest compliment I've ever had,' Sara accepted with quiet sincerity. 'I'm honoured that you wanted me to come.'
'Didn't Amelia look funny with that hat
on her head?' Ana dissolved into delicious giggles. 'And that awful Rodney spilling ice-cream into Susie's lap. She was ever so cross!'
It had been a typical children's party, Sara reflected with a smile—some delightful moments and a few disasters.
'Are you looking forward to tonight?'
Sara pulled a face and wrinkled her nose. 'Well,' she conceded hesitantly, 'your father has a lot of very influential friends, most of whom I have yet to meet.'
'You can't possibly feel shy?'
Sara managed a shamefaced grin. 'Indeed I am. This smiling exterior you see is nothing but a sham.'
'Papa will be there,' said Ana, as if Rafael's presence resolved everything.
'Yes, but I can hardly hang on to him all evening like a limpet,' Sara reasoned, and the young girl appeared to give the matter some thought before asking.
'Do you like to dance, Sara?'
'Yes,' she responded. 'Although it depends who I have for a partner.'
Tomas brought the Mercedes to a gentle halt in the wide sweeping driveway, and Sara was surprised to see Rafael emerge from the house to greet them.
'We're late, Papa,' Ana began at once. 'It wasn't Tomas' fault. The party went on for ages.'
He leant down and ruffled the smooth length of her hair. 'Did you enjoy yourself, niňa?' he queried indulgently.
'Oh yes! We had lots of fun, and everyone loved Sara.'
His dark gleaming glance held quizzical humour, and he placed an arm around each of them as they . moved towards the front entrance. 'I'm sure they did, pequeňa. Your grandmama is waiting anxiously in the lounge,' he added. 'You will tell me all about the party tomorrow, hm?'
'We'll trade,' Ana grinned, and Rafael laughed.
'It's a deal. Sara and I will see you before we leave.'
Sara mounted the stairs ahead of him, and in their bedroom she quickly gathered up fresh underwear and a wrap before making for the bathroom. 'I'll be as quick as I can.'
Ten minutes later she emerged exuding the delightful fragrance of Arpege, having indulged in the use of both soap and talc as welt as a liberal spray of the matching perfume. Where Renée was concerned, one needed every defence available!
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